Family Dentistry
In Gulf Breeze, FL
At Barrineau DDS, located in Gulf Breeze, FL, we believe in proactive dental care that preserves your smile for life. Regular checkups and cleanings are fundamental to maintaining oral health.
Enjoy high-quality dental care in a serene environment, just 15 minutes from East Hill and downtown Pensacola, ensuring dental visits that are both effective and relaxing.
Teeth for Life
Practicing good oral hygiene means maintaining your smile by visiting the dentist regularly and taking care of your teeth and gums between checkups.
We are dedicated to ensuring you receive the utmost benefit from each visit, guiding you towards a lifetime of optimal oral health. Beyond routine care, we educate our patients on the importance of home dental hygiene. We’ll work with you to provide complete dental care and show you how to maintain your smile at home with the right dental products for you and your family.
Dental Cleanings and Regular Checkups
Regular dental checkups are an important part of maintaining your oral health. During your visit, our dedicated hygienists thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, checking for hidden issues such as:
Your hygienist will then provide a thorough tooth cleaning, rinse, and polish. We use state-of-the-art technology for your cleanings, ensuring your visit is comfortable and your smile stays healthy long after. Dr Barrineau will also check for hidden issues such as cavities, gum disease and tooth decay.
Visiting the dentist every six months gives you the chance to talk with your doctor and receive answers to any questions you may have about your oral health. Checkups are also a great way for you to find out about new treatments that may benefit your smile.
Preventive Dentistry for a Stellar Smile
In addition to regular visits to our dental office in Gulf Breeze, good home hygiene is vital to keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Brushing and flossing removes plaque and bacteria that your smile naturally accumulates throughout the day from eating. It is important to remove plaque, as it can cause gingivitis, periodontal disease, and decay.
If you find that brushing with a traditional toothbrush isn’t giving you the results that you’d like, you may want to try an electric toothbrush. The ultrasonic vibrations of an electric toothbrush disrupt bacteria in your mouth. Whether you are using a traditional toothbrush or an electric toothbrush, you must keep up with brushing twice a day for two minutes each time.
If six months have passed since your last visit, we invite you to schedule your next appointment with Barrineau DDS to maintain your oral health.
Choosing the Right Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Choosing the right dental products—whether it be toothpaste, mouthwash, or floss—is crucial for long-term oral health.
We can help by recommending certain dental products for use at home. Our team will provide expert guidance on oral care practices and personalized product recommendations to support the long-term health of your smile.
When you’re looking for a new toothpaste or toothbrush, be sure to choose one that has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA).
A Dentist’s Guide to Healthy Habits
Dr. Barrineau recommends that patients brush twice a day—morning and night—and floss at least one time a day. During brushing, make sure you are covering the whole tooth surface and getting next to the gums.
Our Brushing Guide
Brushing: Step 1
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum.
Brushing: Step 2
Brush gently in a circular motion.
Brushing: Step 3
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
Brushing: Step 4
Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.
Our Flossing Guide
Brushing: Step 1
Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and the other finger takes it up as the floss is used.
Brushing: Step 2
Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth.
Brushing: Step 3
Holding the floss tightly, gently saw it between your teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums.
Brushing: Step 4
Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.
Fluoride and Sealants
There are many effective ways to protect your teeth in between visits to the dentist. Fluoride and sealants are just two of them.
Protect Your Teeth with Fluoride
Brushing twice daily, regular flossing, and biannual dental visits form the foundation of excellent oral care. However, incorporating fluoride into your routine can further protect your teeth. Fluoride, a powerful mineral known for its ability to prevent cavities and tooth decay, strengthens your teeth and helps maintain their health and resilience.
Fluoride is effective in preventing cavities and tooth decay by coating your teeth and preventing plaque from building up and hardening on the tooth’s surface.
Two Varieties of Flouride: Systemic and Topical
- Systemic fluoride is ingested, usually through a public water supply. While teeth are forming under the gums, fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it stronger and more resistant to cavities.
- Topical fluoride is applied topically to the teeth to help prevent cavities on the teeth. It is delivered through toothpaste, mouthwash, and professional fluoride applications.
Receiving a Fluoride Treatment from Your Dentist
A fluoride treatment from your dentist’s office takes just a few minutes. After the treatment, patients may be asked not to rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.
Depending on your oral health or your doctor’s recommendation, it may be suggested that you receive a fluoride treatment every 3, 6, or 12 months. Your doctor may also prescribe an at-home fluoride product such as a mouthwash, gel, or an antibacterial rinse.
Fluoride at Home
When choosing your at-home fluoride product, such as toothpaste or mouthwash, always check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined by the ADA and approved based on safety and effectiveness.
Sealants
Brushing alone may not always suffice, particularly for the more intricate areas of your teeth. It is difficult for your toothbrush to get in between the small cracks and grooves on your teeth. If left alone, those tiny areas can develop into tooth decay. Sealants give your teeth extra protection against decay and help prevent cavities.
Dental sealants are plastic resins that bond and harden in the deep grooves on your tooth’s surface. When a tooth is sealed, the tiny grooves become smooth and are less likely to harbor plaque. With sealants, brushing your teeth becomes easier and more effective.
Sealants are typically applied to a child’s permanent teeth as a preventive measure against tooth decay. However, adults can also receive sealants on healthy teeth. It is more common to seal permanent teeth rather than baby teeth, but every patient has unique needs, and your dentist will recommend sealants on a case-by-case basis.
Sealants typically last from 3–5 years, although it is fairly common to see adults with sealants still intact from childhood. Sealants are effective only when intact; if they become compromised, please inform your dentist to schedule a resealing appointment.
Understanding Your Smile’s Development
From birth, individuals have 20 primary (baby) teeth, which typically begin to emerge around 6 months. By the age of 21, these baby teeth are gradually replaced by 32 permanent teeth.
Being aware of these dental milestones, along with adopting proper care practices, is essential to ensuring lifelong oral health. Learning about the development of your teeth can be both informative and empowering.
Anatomy of a Tooth
This diagram shows all the inner workings of your tooth and gums. Take a minute to note the intricacies of your teeth, and how much they do for you.
Though teeth are very resilient, it’s important to remember that regular care at home and from the dentist is key to maintaining your smile.
Tooth Growth Timeline
As your child’s teeth begin to emerge, it’s important to start a routine of regular oral care. Even though baby teeth are not permanent, they play a crucial role in your child’s development, aiding in speech development and proper chewing.
Take a look at this chart to see the development of your little one’s teeth.
As you can see, teeth come in fast and need to last a long time, especially in the case of adult teeth. Establishing a brushing and flossing routine early on sets the foundation for life-long healthy habits.
Sports Dentistry
As advocates for dental wellness in sports, our office offers specialized care to athletes of all ages. Sports dentistry is essential for preventing oral injuries, maintaining optimal performance, and preserving your smile’s integrity.
Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It’s important to protect your child’s smile if he or she plays sports. Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and usage of equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages.
Preventing Injury
One of the best ways to prevent injury to your child’s teeth and mouth is to have him or her wear a mouthguard while playing sports. Dr. Barrineau is an authorized provider of athletic mouthpieces and can help you choose the best one for your child’s particular needs.
Athletic Performance Mouthwear
Dr. Barrineau has long understood the importance of protection in sports and has helped athletes in Gulf Breeze and the surrounding areas improve their performance and safety through expertly fitted athletic mouthpieces.
Mouthpieces protect the jaw and teeth from impact, but they prevent the excess production and release of hormones that occur when an athlete clenches their jaw.
These hormones, such as cortisol, produce stress, fatigue, and distraction and often impede athletic efforts. While reducing the effect of impacts on the jaw, these mouthguards can also help any athlete improve strength, endurance, and reaction time and can reduce athletic stress.
Tried and True Performance
Athletic mouthpieces have been used by Olympic and Collegiate athletes as well as locally for school competitions. The same technology that high-level competitors use to enhance and improve their athletic performance can also help “weekend warriors” in their sporting activities.
Even people who regularly work out can achieve higher levels of athletic performance by using the athletic mouthpieces.
Your Smile Says Everything
By choosing the right dental products, visiting us every six months, and preventing damage to your teeth, we can keep your smile pristine. Contact us today to get started on a healthy foundation and routine for your smile.